THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL AND THE NEW REGULATIONS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2498, 21 June 1884, Page 2

THE SLUDGE-CHANNEL AND THE NEW REGULATIONS.

PROPOSALS TO SUBSIDISE TAILRACES.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Pursuant to invitation given, a public meeting of miners and business people directly or indirectly interested in the working of the Kumara sludgechannel was held in the Theatre Royal last evening. The object of the meeting was for the purpose of ascertaining the feeling and opinion of all concerned as to the advisability of subsidising the construction of tail-races, so as to relieve the channel of such a number of claims working into it as may enable the owners thereof to share in its advantages. About 400 persons were present. His Worship the Mayor (D. Hannan, Esq,) presided.

The Chairman said that from notice given in the Kumara Times those present were well aware what they were called together for to-night. It was evident there was one prevailing reason the sludge-channel was not large enough ; this was the source of all the evil that was manifest for some time back. It was desirable that they should come to one conclusion, how to get over this great difficulty. Resolutions would be submitted to the meeting, and he had no doubt the audience would give the speakers a fair and impartial hearing—[Applause,] ' Mr John Davidson, who was received with applause, said he had a resolution to propose, which he would read—- “ That whereas the Government acted injudiciously in allowing more tail-races to be connected with the sludge-chan-nel than could possibly be accommodated, thereby causing a serious loss, not alone to the parties intermediately concerned, but the district at large ; it is the opinion of this meeting that it is the duty of the Government to relieve the channel by constructing additional channels to enable at least eight parties to leave the said channel.” He thought there .could be no dispute but this was the case, and it had become a very serious matter to miners and the people of the district generally. The Government had entered into a contract with a certain number of miners to take away their tailings through the sludge-channel, and if they had accepted the task of doing this for a larger number of claimholders than the channel was capable of performing, it was (ho duty of the Government to enlarge the means of (his being done, and so fulfilling their promises. The resolution which he proposed seemed to be the only way out of the difficulty j and

if carried into effect it would be a great boon to the miners and business people. He thought that was everything that was required.—[Great applause.] Mr John Wildridge seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.

Mr J. S. Pearn, who also was received with applause, moved—“ That should the Government refuse to bear the whole expense in relieving the sludge-channel by constructing an additional channel as Government property, this meeting would respectfully request that the Government would subsidise private parties willing to construct channels to the extent of £ for £ on cost.” As there had been an inclination from what they had read in the papers on the part of the Government to assist in the manner indicated in this resolution, he hoped they would come to an amicable conclusion as to what was the best course to pursue to suit all parties. The channel was not sufficient, therefore moi’e accommodation must be provided. He hoped, as the chairman had remarked, that any bad feeling that existed might done away with, for while unity existed there would be a better chance of getting what they required.—[Applause.] The Chairman here read a telegram which he had received from Mr K. J. Seddon, member for the district, as follows ;

To his Worship the Mayor, Kumara. Understand meeting takes place re assisting construction of private tail-races. You are authorised to pledge me to contribute equal to highest amount given.

R. J. Seddon. Wellington, June 20, 1884. Applause followed the reading of the telegram. Mr P. Caldwell seconded the motion, which was then put, and carried unanimously. Mr J. S. Nicholas moved—“ That it is the opinion of this meeting that a committee consisting of business people and miners formed for the purpose giving effect to the foregoing resolutions] and that such committee consist of—Messrs Hannan (Mayor), John Davidson, Pearn, Keech, (Kumara), Foldi, Way, Tennant (Dillman’sTown), business men; and Messrs G. Mansfield, E. Kothwell, A. Miller, and G. Watson, miners.”—[Applause.] It was very desirable that the business people should assist the miners in carrying out these resolutions. It was unreasonable to expect any parties should be debarred from working their claims. Mr R. Barrett seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr A. Crebar said he had. a short resolution to move, which was—“ That the thanks of the miners of this district be accorded to the Westland County Council and the Borough Council of Kumara for their very kind and liberal assistance in sending delegates to Wellington.”—[Loud and continued applause.] Mr Nicholas seconded the motion. The Chairman made an explanation regarding the action of the Borough Council in voting £2O towards the delegates’ expenses. Long before it was known that it was the intention of miners to send delegates to Wellington a petition to Government had been prepared by the Council, at the request of miners, advocating a reduction in the price of water for sluicing purposes. When the Council found that delegates were going to Wellington to support a miners’ petition concerning the sludgechannel, the Council considered it would be cheaper to that body to give the said delegates a sum of £2O tharr to send one of their own members to sustain the prayer of the Council’s petition. A letter from the Council, written by the Town Clerk and under the seal of the Council was handed to the delegates to show by whom they were accredited, and the sole object of the petition was to ask for a reduction in the price of water for sluicing purposes on this field.—[Great applause.] He thought it his duty to mention this in consequence of the imputation which had lately been publicly made that the Council had voted the burgesses’ money to defray the expenses of the representatives of a clique.—[Applause.] Mr Crebar’s motion was then put and carried, their being only two dissentients.

The Chairman said if there were no other business he would declare tho meeting closed. He was pleased to observe the good order which had prevailed, considering the grievances that existed.

The members of commit tee appointed who were present then met, and after appointing Mr J. S. Pearn their secretary and instructing him to forward to the member for the district by telegraph the resolutions which had been carried at tho public meeting, adjourned the meeting of the committee till Monday next, at the Town Hall, at 8.30 p.m.